Senator J. Bennett Johnston Jr.

Chairman, American Iranian Council

CEO, Johnston and Associates

Sen. Johnston was a Democratic politician and US Senator from Louisiana from 1972 to 1997. He served as a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources from its creation and as its Chairman and Ranking Member for much of that time. He was either directly or indirectly responsible for all energy legislation considered by Congress between 1973 and 1996. He proposed and passed the first electricity restructuring legislation as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which also contained extensive provisions regarding natural gas and re-wrote the nuclear licensing provisions of federal law. Sen. Johnston obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) from Louisiana State University. He attended the US military academy at West Point and has served in the US Army.